The Aluminium Mounted model was listed as a separate model rather than a version of the Instantograph. It was introduced in 1892 in sizes of quarter-plate, half-plate and whole-plate, the price of the quarter-plate was £3.3.0 an ordinary Instantograph cost £2.2.0. Later (by 1900) sizes of 10" x 8" and 12" x 10" were added. The camera was listed into the late 1900s by which time an Iris shutter was fitted. The aluminium binding has a pattern of small raised dots.

The reversing frame on this example is removed by pressing a lever which depresses a spring catch.

The 1888 model adopted conventional rack and pinion focusing rather than the front-operated worm screw of the 1887 model. The folding bed is now held in position by side struts.

The first example above is an early version of the 1888 model having the Lancaster shield and name stamped into the wood, later a metal shield would be used. It also has the early pivoted disks to hold the dark-slide in place and an enamel name plaque. Later models used Lancaster's parallel or 'Z' type back arrangement and ivory name plaques.

The tripod with the 1893 model is stamped Lancaster Patent. Lancaster did patent a tripod but it was different to this example which is a simple two fold model.

On Lancaster cameras the screws of the lens flange are not normally counter-sunk as is the case with most other manufacturers.

As well as an f number scale lenses carry a scale giving an exposure factor: f10 = 1; f20 = 4; f30 = 8. i.e. after calculating or guessing the exposure based on f10 closing to f30 will require 8 times the exposure.

Instantograph Models

The Instantograph name covers a large number of models of very different design. The most common type covers the model produced from 1888 through to the mid 1900s known originally simply as the Instantograph and later as the BB Instantograph.

1882 model

1886/87 model

1888 model

Aluminium Mounted Instantograph

Pocket Instantograph

Cyclo Instantograph

Imperial Instantograph

Portable Instantograph

Folding Instantograph

Special Brass Bound Instantograph

1900 model Instantograph

BB Instantograph

Euryscope Instantograph

Royal Instantograph

Excelsior Instantograph

Empire Instantograph

Variations covering the ordinary and BB models

• Name plaque. Early models (before c. 1890) have enamel plaques, later ivory.
• Fitting of dark-slide. Early models (between 1887 and c. 1890) use two eccentrically mounted discs to hold the slide at the top corners, the focusing screen is hinged at the top. Later the slide pushes into slots and the screen is mounted on 'Z' shaped links that hold it parallel to the back of the camera.
• Bellows. Early models have square cornered bellows, later they are diagonal.
• Lancaster shield. On early models (before c. 1892) the shield is stamped into the wood, later a metal plaque is used.
• Handle. Late models are fitted with a handle.
• Baseboard catch. On early models two swivelling catches hold the baseboard to the body when the camera is closed, later (c. 1895) a spring catch is used.
• Joints. Early models use dovetail joints on the rear standard later they are finger joints.
• Lens Panel. On late models this is a simple square panel sunk into the front standard. On earlier models the panel runs between rails giving a cross front movement or, on larger sizes, it is attached to the front standard by two bolts that move within slots on the front panel.
• On early models the edge of the camera body has a bevelled edge, the Lancaster name is also stamped into the wood.
• On early models the baseboard is fixed in the down position by bolts that push into the camera body, later conventional struts were used.